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Railay's beaches and limestone cliffs seen from the viewpoint above the peninsula
Limestone cliffs and clear water at Koh Hong in the Andaman Sea off Krabi
The green water of Sa Morakot, the Emerald Pool, under the forest canopy
A white-sand beach and clear water on Koh Rok Yai
The golden seated Buddha on the summit terrace of the Tiger Cave Temple above the Krabi plain

Things to do in Krabi: 10 experiences

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Photo: Stefan Fussan, CC BY-SA 3.0

Than Bok Khorani National Park

Kayak into the lagoon of Koh Hong off Ao Nang

Check dates and prices

Photo: Wolfgang Holzem, CC BY-SA 4.0

Khlong Thom, Krabi

Swim in the Emerald Pool and soak in the Khlong Thom hot waterfall

Check dates and prices

Photo: Maksym Kozlenko, CC BY-SA 4.0

Mu Ko Lanta National Park

Snorkel the twin islands of Koh Rok from Koh Lanta

Check dates and prices

Photo: dronepicr, CC BY 2.0

Krabi Town

Climb the 1,200-odd steps of the Tiger Cave Temple

Check dates and prices

Photo: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0

Krabi is the coast of limestone towers on the Andaman Sea, east of Phuket across Phang Nga Bay. Most visitors stay in Ao Nang, the beach resort where the long-tails leave for the islands, or on Railay, a peninsula cut off by cliffs and reached only by boat.

Inland, the forest hides the Emerald Pool, a hot waterfall and the Tiger Cave Temple. Krabi Town, on its river, is where locals eat and where boats leave for the karst towers of Khao Khanap Nam. To the north, Ao Luek's mangroves lead to caves with prehistoric paintings, and to the south Koh Lanta is the base for the clear water of Koh Rok.

10 things to do in Krabi

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The golden seated Buddha on the summit terrace of the Tiger Cave Temple above the Krabi plain

Climb the 1,200-odd steps of the Tiger Cave Temple

Krabi Town

2 to 3 hours with the climbGo alone or with a tour

A forest temple built into a karst cliff, with a stairway of more than 1,200 steps to a golden Buddha above the Krabi plain.

Check dates and pricesJungle day: Tiger Cave, hot springs and a pool
Been there?
The green water of Sa Morakot, the Emerald Pool, under the forest canopy

Swim in the Emerald Pool and soak in the Khlong Thom hot waterfall

Khlong Thom, Krabi

A full day from Ao NangGo alone or with a tour

A spring-fed green pool in the rainforest and, a few kilometres away, warm water tumbling over limestone tiers into pools.

Check dates and pricesDay tour: Emerald Pool, hot waterfall, Tiger Cave
Been there?
Railay's two bays and the karst cliffs seen from the Rai Leh viewpoint

Scramble up to the Railay viewpoint and down to the hidden lagoon

Railay, Krabi

1 to 2 hoursFree

A steep jungle climb with ropes to a view over both of Railay's bays, then a muddy descent to a lagoon inside the cliffs.

Been there?
Limestone cliffs and clear water at Koh Hong in the Andaman Sea off Krabi

Kayak into the lagoon of Koh Hong off Ao Nang

Than Bok Khorani National Park

Half a day to a full dayBook ahead

A limestone island near Ao Nang with a jade lagoon you can only enter by kayak, and a stairway to a view over the islands.

Check dates and pricesSpeedboat day to the Hong islands with lunch
Been there?
The twin karst towers of Khao Khanap Nam rising from the Krabi River

Take a long-tail to the twin karsts of Khao Khanap Nam

Krabi Town

1 to 2 hoursNo booking needed

Two limestone towers about 100 metres high rise straight out of the river at the edge of Krabi Town, with caves inside.

Been there?
Food stalls at a market by the river in Krabi Town

Eat at Krabi Town's riverside night market and weekend Walking Street

Krabi Town

An eveningFree

Krabi Town eats cheaper than the beach resorts, with a riverside night market, a weekend walking street and the south's biggest morning market.

Been there?
A kayak gliding along a still mangrove channel under limestone cliffs in Than Bok Khorani National Park

Paddle the Ao Luek mangroves to caves with prehistoric paintings

Ao Luek, Krabi

Half a dayNo booking needed

Mangrove channels north of Krabi Town lead to a sea cave you pass through by boat and another with prehistoric rock paintings.

Tours in Krabi
Been there?
A white-sand beach and clear water on Koh Rok Yai

Snorkel the twin islands of Koh Rok from Koh Lanta

Mu Ko Lanta National Park

A full day from Koh LantaBook ahead

Two limestone islands 250 metres apart, far off Koh Lanta, with some of the clearest snorkelling water off the Krabi coast.

Check dates and pricesSpeedboat day to Koh Rok and Koh Haa
Been there?
Long-tail boats pulled up on the beach of Koh Poda off Ao Nang

Island-hop off Ao Nang by private long-tail

Ao Nang, Krabi

A full dayNo booking needed

Charter your own long-tail and land on Koh Poda's crescent beach before the speedboat groups arrive, or stay after they leave.

Tours in Krabi
Been there?
A climber on the overhanging limestone of Ton Sai Roof, next to Railay

Learn to climb on the limestone of Railay and Ton Sai

Railay, Krabi

Half a day or a full day courseBook ahead

Learn to climb on a cliff-bound peninsula with more than 700 bolted routes, then watch climbers above the sand at Phra Nang.

Tours in Krabi
Been there?

Traveller picks

Hidden gems suggested by travellers. We check each one before it goes up; the words are theirs, not ours.

No traveller picks for Krabi yet. Know a place most visitors miss?

Plan your trip

  • Getting there

    Krabi International Airport (KBV) has frequent flights from Bangkok and some from abroad. Ferries and speedboats link Krabi with Phi Phi, Phuket and Koh Lanta, and buses run from Bangkok and other southern towns.

  • Getting around

    Songthaews run between Krabi Town and Ao Nang. Railay and Ton Sai have no road: long-tail boats leave from Ao Nang beach, about 10 minutes away. For the Emerald Pool, the hot waterfall and Ao Luek, a day tour or a hired driver is the simple choice.

  • How many days

    In must30's view, four days covers the essentials: one on the islands by long-tail, one at Railay, one inland for the Emerald Pool and Tiger Cave, and one for Hong Island or Ao Luek. Add two or three days on Koh Lanta for Koh Rok.

  • When to go

    November to April is the dry season, with calm seas for island trips. From May to October the monsoon brings rain and rough water, some boat trips stop, and Koh Rok and Koh Ha close to visitors from mid-May to the end of October.

  • Where to base yourself

    Ao Nang for the widest choice and the boats, Railay for climbing and evenings without traffic, Krabi Town for food and lower prices, and Koh Lanta for long quiet beaches and the outer islands.

Questions travellers ask

Ao Nang or Railay?

Ao Nang has more hotels, restaurants and boat departures, and is cheaper. Railay is quieter, car-free and right under the climbing cliffs, but everything arrives by boat and rooms cost more. Many people stay in Ao Nang and spend a day at Railay.

Do tours to Hong Island include the park fee?

Usually not. The Than Bok Khorani National Park fee for foreign adults is 300 baht, paid on top. Ask whether kayaks and the climb to the viewpoint are included too.

When can I visit Koh Rok?

Koh Rok and Koh Ha close every year from 16 May to 31 October for reef recovery. Day trips run from Koh Lanta the rest of the year, weather allowing.

More places in this region

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